🙂A single person spends $718 per month in Da Nang vs $879 in Santa Cruz, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,105 per month in Da Nang vs $1,438 in Santa Cruz, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,491 per month in Da Nang vs $1,998 in Santa Cruz, rent included.
🙂Da Nang is about 18% cheaper than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Da Nang and Santa Cruz are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang47% lower, Santa Cruz35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.88₫49.5K
$7.37JMD 1,159
-74.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.54₫513.3K
$63.3JMD 9,958
-69.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.80₫126.0K
$8.95JMD 1,407
-46.37%
Cappuccino
$1.61₫42.4K
$4.40JMD 693
-63.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54₫14.1K
$1.31JMD 205
-58.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₫7,605
$0.74JMD 117
-60.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08₫28.3K
$2.52JMD 397
-57.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₫41.7K
$3.17JMD 498
-49.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37₫35.9K
$4.23JMD 665
-67.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02₫26.8K
$3.49JMD 549
-70.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17₫30.8K
$1.58JMD 248
-25.95%
Eggs
$1.47₫38.5K
$3.42JMD 538
-57.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23₫321.3K
$11.24JMD 1,768
8.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.81₫100.1K
$6.55JMD 1,030
-41.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.04₫263.7K
$7.54JMD 1,187
33.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62₫68.8K
$5.96JMD 938
-56.04%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98₫25.7K
$3.16JMD 497
-68.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12₫29.3K
$4.13JMD 650
-72.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.11₫29.1K
$3.00JMD 472
-63.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14₫29.8K
$2.07JMD 326
-44.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15₫30.1K
$1.94JMD 305
-40.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01₫26.5K
$2.99JMD 470
-66.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.6K
$1.46JMD 229
-64.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.36₫35.7K
$9.01JMD 1,417
-84.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.78₫204.4K
$11.47JMD 1,804
-32.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85₫22.3K
$2.85JMD 449
-70.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64₫43.0K
$3.21JMD 506
-48.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫8,995
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.75₫98.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85₫22.3K
$1.09JMD 171
-22.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₫19.5K
$3.16JMD 497
-76.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.95₫313.9K
$6.15JMD 967
94.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85₫22.3K
$1.23JMD 193
-30.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K₫707.0M
$43.6KJMD 6.9M
-38.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K₫758.3M
$34.0KJMD 5.3M
-14.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.0₫2.0M
$162JMD 25.4K
-53.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.01₫157.9K
$22.34JMD 3,514
-73.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.43₫221.5K
$50.2JMD 7,897
-83.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.69₫517.3K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.83₫205.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₫82.3K
$12.93JMD 2,034
-75.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152₫4.0M
$226JMD 35.6K
-32.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7K₫334.7M
$2,445JMD 384.5K
421.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.87₫1.0M
$26.26JMD 4,130
51.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.49₫669.5K
$26.02JMD 4,092
-2.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.9₫1.4M
$71.7JMD 11.3K
-27.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.2₫2.0M
$74.7JMD 11.7K
0.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353₫9.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248₫6.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718₫18.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$449₫11.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,837₫100.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,299₫34.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Santa Cruz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$353₫9.3M
$405JMD 63.7K
-12.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.67
9.15
16.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: June 9, 2026
Last update for Santa Cruz: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 15% higher in Santa Cruz, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Da Nang versus $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $350 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Da Nang vs Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and Santa Cruz compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $718 in Da Nang, $879 in Santa Cruz – roughly 22% apart. Santa Cruz costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to Santa Cruz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,077 per month in Da Nang and $1,318 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Da Nang or Santa Cruz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $718 in Da Nang and $879 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Da Nang and Santa Cruz?
Kindergarten costs $152 per month in Da Nang and $226 in Santa Cruz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Da Nang vs Santa Cruz?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $718 in Da Nang and $879 in Santa Cruz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Da Nang and Santa Cruz?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $718 in Da Nang to $879 in Santa Cruz. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Da Nang or Santa Cruz safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Da Nang and Santa Cruz?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Cruz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.